Refrigerator



G. H. YOUNG v 2,076,835 l REFRIGERATOR April 13, 1937.

5, 1954 2 sheets-snaai 1 Filed Dec i Filed Dec. 5, 1934 2 sheeis-sheet 2Patented pr. 13, 1937l UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,016,335namasas'ron George H. Young, Oak Park, lill. v Applieeuen December s,1934, serial No. 156,009

'l Claims.

This invention. relates to refrigerators and more particularly todoors'therefor.

i It has been the custom heretofore to hingedly connect the doors of arefrigerator thereto a t either the right or left hand side thereof topermit the doors to be swung to and from closed position in a directionwhichwould afford easiest access to the storage compartments in eachparhinged doors could not be used because there was not suiiicient roomto permit the doors to be swung to and from closed position.

.Hence,v the primary object of my invention is to equip a refrigeratorwith doors that can be moved to and vfrom closed position 'within theconiines of the refrigerator lwhereby hinged mounting .of the doors atthe right or left hand side of the refrigerator may be avoided and therefrigerator may be used in those, places whereat be swung to and fromclosed position.

Other objects of the invention are to lmove the doors of a refrigeratorvertically. to and from closed positiom. to mount the doors for conjointor individual movement; to counterbalance the doors to facilitatemovement thereof; to rmly secure the doors in closed position and ,tosecure one door by engagement of the sec/u//v/g parts with therefrigerator .and to secure/,he other door or doors one to the other; toseal)r he edges of the doors against leakage and tp prevent sweatingthereabout; and to providea refrigerator door arrangement of simple andeconomical construction and expeditious and positive opera-- tion.

A selected embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigeratorconstructed in accordance with my invention and wherein one of thedoorsis in open' position disclosing vthe food compartment; "Flg.2 is a.front elevation and. in which cer-- tain` parts are broken away;

Fig. 3 is a. horizontalsectional detail view taken substantially on theline 3-3 on Fig. 2;

Fig.l 4 is a top plan view in which certain parts 55 are broken away;

thereV is not sufficient room to enable a door to' ',The space betweenthe type of refrigerator.

\ wardly ofthe fianges i3 and panels i Fig. 5 is a vertical sectiondetail view taken substantially on the line 5-5 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line B-Gon Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional detail view showing thelatching mechanism and taken sub- 'stantially'on'the line 1-1 on Fig. 6;land Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical lsection detail view showing partsofthe locking device illustrated at the right hand end of Fig. 7. l

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, 9generally indicates the housing of-.my refrigerator, preferably made ofmetal and suitably nished on the outer -surface thereof, as by enamelingor they like, to

enhance the appearance thereof. The refrlg erator also has a metalliclining I0 spaced from the housing 9 and suitably iinishedon the innersurface thereof to enhance the appearance thereof, expedite cleaning,and enable a sanitary condition to be maintained in the storagecompartment of the refrigerator. the lining is spaced above the bottomof the refrigerator whereby a chamber is dened in the refrigeratorbelow` the 'bottom of the lining., housing 9 and the sides, back and topof the lining l0 is preferably filled with suitable insulatihg materialsuch as corkboard or the like. The space enclosed' by the lining Ill isopen at the front and is preferably divided into refrigerating and foodcompartments, access to which is had through the open front, and myinvention particularly relates to doors for closing the open front ofthe refrigerator. In the illustrated lform of the inventionthe-refrigerating compartment is positioned above the food compartment.It is to be under- The bottom wall of v thus far described is onlyillustrative, for my invention is not limited to use with thisparticular As best shown in Fig. 'l the side walls of the housing 9include forwardly extending parts .i2 which terminate in flanges i3 thatprovide the front -wall of my refrigerator, a panel i4, unitary with theflanges la, being provided tetweenY the flanges on that part of thefront wall below the bottom of the food compartment in the refrigerator.A panel il', unitary with anges I3, is s provided `between the upperparts of these flanges I3 above the top of the refrigeratingcompartment.

Y The insulation the housing '9 and the lining i0 terminates in- IU(Fig. '1)

.Il between the side walls of n :danses I3.

panels Ill' are thus spaced from the anges I3.

The panels I6' are unitary with the lining I0 I and at the juncture ofthe lining and these panels, the lining is folded upon itself to providetracks I5 that extend toward each .other at opposite sides oi' the openfront of the space,Y

confined by the lining Ill. 'Ihese tracks ex- 10 vtend verticallythroughout the height of the lining I and tracks I5' on the frame of therefrigerator are aligned with the tracks I5 and extend to the bottom ofthe. refrigerator. 'I'he tracks I and I5' guide the doors to which my l5invention appertains in` their movement to and from closed position. iPosts I6 are provided in the space between the panels I8 andth anges I3and are located at the corners define between the parts I2 and the Theseposts, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, are of a` length equal to theheight of the lining I0 and provide jambs for the door. The sides I I ofthe posts I6, which face toward each other, are tapered outwardly anddownwardly so that they are spaced apart the greatest amount at thelower ends thereof. A

'I'he doors I8 and I9 are mounted between the jambs afforded by thetapered faces I'I of the posts I6 and are adapted to move vertically toand from closing position. The door I8 closes the refrigeratingcompartment while the door I9 closes the food compartment. Each of thesedoors includes afront wall 20 that is similar to the housing 9 in nishand material. The doors also include side walls -2I (Fig. 3). which aretapered complementary to the faces II and which are of a. depth equal tothe depth of the posts I 8. Right angularly extending anges 22 and 23(Fig. 3) interconnect the side walls 2| with the linings24 40 of thedoors which linings correspond in finish and material to the lining I0.The flanges 23, as best shown in Fig. 3, extend inwardly of the tracksI5 but are spaced therefrom.y Insulation 25v is provided between thefront wall 20, the lin- 45 ing 24, the fianges 22 and 23, and the sidewalls 2| of each of the doors and this insulation is similar to theinsulation I I.

Wheels 26 are provided near each corner of each. door and these wheelsare peripherally 50 grooved to receive and ride on the tracks I5 andI5'. 'I'he insulation 25 is cut away in eachoi the doors at the placeswhereat the wheels 26 are to be mounted and lugs formed on the flanges23 provide bearings to receive the axles of the 55 wheels 2,6 as isillustrated in Fig. 7.

Strip gaskets 28 of cork, rubber or the like are mounted on the faces IIand when the doors are in closing position the side walls 2I thereofengage these gaskets to prevent leakage past 60 the doors and also toprevent sweating and other undesirable conditions. A similar gasket 28'is provided between the top wall of the door I8 and the face of the doorjamb at the top of the door as illustrated in' Fig. 6. Likewise a gasket28" is 65 provided between the bottom oi the door I8 and the top of thedoor I9 for these parts of the doorsengage when the doors are in closingposition shown in Fig. 2.

As best shown in Fig. 5 the door I9 extends 70 rslightly below thebottom wall 29 of the food compartment. The top of this bottom wall isprovided by the lining I Il and th bottom thereof is provided by a plate30, insulation 3| being provided between the lining I8 and the plate 30.The

75 front wail 32 of the bottom wall 29 is spaced from the lining 24 ofthe door I9. A lip 33 is provided at the juncture of the lining 24 ofthe door I9 with the bottom`wall34 of this door and this lip extendsbelow the lower wall 29. A gasket 35 is provided at the front end of theplate 30 and when the door I9 `is in closing position the lip 33 engagesthis gasket and seals the lower edge of the door I9.

Since the doors I8 and I9 move vertically to and from closing positionit is advantageous to counterbalance these doors and while suchcounterbalancing may be effected in a number .of ways, I have found theuse of counterbalancing weights to be desirable, and such weights may beconveniently mounted at the back of the refrigerator. A weight chamber36 (Fig. 6) is provided at the back of the refrigerator and 'is definedbetween the rear wall of the refrigerator and a plate 31 which has aninwardly extending flange at the upper end thereof that is suitablysecured to the refrigerator.

Peripherally grooved rollers 38 are provided at the top of thecompartment 36. Passages 39 are provided through the insulation I I atthe top and at each side of the refrigerator. Rollers 40 are provided ina recess in the insulation at the top of the space between the panels I0and the flanges I3. Cords 4I have corresponding ends thereof connectedto lugs such as 42 (Fig. 3) on the flanges 22 of the door I8 and thesecords pass about the rollers 40, through the passages 39 and about therollers 38 and the opposite ends thereof are secured to acounterbalancing weight 43 in the compartment '36,

Rollers 44 similar to the rollers 38 are mounted in the chamber 36slightly above the plane of the bottom of the door I8 when it is inclosing po-r are secured to a counterbalancing weight 48 in thecompartment 36. l

The weight 43 is sized to counterbalance the door I8 and the weight 48is sized to counterbalance the door I9 and therefor these doors willfreely move to and from closing position or they may be retained inpositions intermediate the open and closed positions thereof because ofthe counterbalancing thereof.

It has been explained that the door I8 closes the refrigeratingcompartment and that the door I9 closes the food compartment and alsothat these doors move vertically. When both of these doors are in theiruppermost positions in the vertical movement thereof, they are incompartment closing position. Hence when it is desired to have access tothe food compartment the door I9 is lowered into the position shown inFig. 1. However, when it is desired to have access, to the refrigeratingcompartment, it is necessary to move both of the doors and when this isdone the door I9 moves into position shown in Fig. 1 and the door I8moves into a position such that it closes the food compartment. sInorder to yattain such movement of the doors it is necessary that thedoor I9 be capable of movement independently of rollers controlled bythe handle 58 latch into thev door I8. Thus, when the door I8 isunlatchedl capable of conjoint movement. I thereforelatch the door I9tothe door I8 and I latch the door I8 to the refrigerator. 'Ihen whenthe door I9 'is unlatched from the door I8 it is capable of its requiredindependent movement, but when the door I9 is latched to the doorI8vand2the door I8 is unlatched from 'the refrigerator; the doors arecapable of the conjoint movement described. v

One form of latching means suitable for 'such 10 operation isillustrated inthe accompanying drawings and while this latching meansattains a desired end it is to be understood thatvother forms maybe usedwithout departing from 'the purview of my invention. rIfhe operatingparts I of the latchv mechanisms provided in both of the doors I8 and I9in the illustrated forms are similar. The latch mechanism in the door I8is controlled by a yhandle 49` while the latch mechanism for the door I9is controlled by a handle 58.

These latch mechanisms are Aoperated by pressing Ythese handles inwardlyas by moving the handle 4,9 from the full line position in Fig. 7 intothe dotted line position thereof.

` The operating mechanisms for the latch prou vided in the door ,I8 areshown in Fig. 7. The

insulation in the door I8 is cut away near the lower end thereof toprovide a chamber 5I. Bearings 52 and 53 are provided in this chamber atopposite ends thereof and plungers 54 -and 55 are respectively mountedin these bearings for reciprocall movement.Y A spring 58 is providedabout the plunger 54 Vand normally urges this plunger outwardly to seatthe roller 51 at the free end of the plunger in the pocket 58 (Fig. 2)'

formed in the post I8 at the left hand side of the refrigerator asviewed in Fig. 2. A spring 59 acts on' the plunger 55 to force itoutwardly to'seat the roller 88 at the free end of this plunger in thepocket 6I in the post I8 at the right hand 40 side of the refrigeratoras viewed in Fig. 2. The handle 49 includes a plunger 82 mounted forreciprocal movement in the front wall of the door I8. An arm 83 is faston the plunger 82 in the chamber 5I. A link 8l is pivotally connected tothe arm 88 and the inner end of the plunger 5l. A link 88` is pivotallyconnected to the arm 88 andl 4the'inner end of the plunger 55. Thesprings 58 and 59 normally act to urge rollers 5 1 and 88 int'o thepockets 58 and 8| respectively to 50 thereby latch the door I8 in itsuppermost and compartment closing position and in so doing these springseiIect substantial aiignmentoi' the links 84 and 85 with the arm 88.However, when, the handle 49 is forced inwardly the links. 8l and 85move into angular relation with the arm 88,

as shown in Fig. '1, and retract the plungers .54 and 55 so that therollers 51 and 88 are retracted from thepockets 58 and 8I whereupon thedoor 4I8 `may moverelative to the lamb 60, therefor.

A similar operating arrangement under the control of the handle 58 isprovided at the top of the door I9'but, as shown in Fig. 8, the plunger55 thereof includes an upwardly extending part 88 which projects throughaligned'openings '81 and 88/respectively provided in the top of the doorI9 and the bottom of the door I8. The roller ,89 is mounted at the topof part 88 and is engageable with a block 18,- at the bottom of thecopartment 5I.` The arrangement just described is provided in the doorI9 at the -rightside of the refrigerator as viewed in Fig. 2 and asimilar arrangementjs provided at the left hand side of this door. Itwill thus be seen that the latching in the manner previously described,the door I9 will remain latched thereto unless the handle 5I! ismanipulated tounlatch the door I9 from the door I8 for the springs whichact on the roller carrying plungers normally hold the rollers inlatching position. 0f course, if the-door I8 is not unlatched, the doorI8 may nevertheless be unlatched therefromso that it can be lowered intoits open position shown in Fig. 1.

If the lining I8 was divided into three or more compartments anadditional door or doors could be provided below the door I9 and thefirst additional door would latch 'to the door I9 as the door I9 latchesto the door I8, for each door, except the top door, latches to the oneabove it and the top door latches to the refrigerator. Thus access canbe had to any compartment merely by releasing the latch which retainsthe door for that compartment in position.

In the movement of the doors to and from closed position, the wheels 28travel on the tracks I5 and I5' and prevent undesirable side sway of thedoors. Furthermore, as soon as one of the doors moves. from its closedposition, lthe 'side walls 2l thereof disengage the gaskets 'on thefaces I1 and the space between these side walls and the faces increasesas the doors move further away from their closed positions. For thisreasonit is essential that the doors be latched when in closed positionfor such latching tightly engages the side walls of the doors with thegaskets on the faces I'I and prevents leakage, such latching alsotightly engaging the horizonal parts on the doors with the gasketstherefor to prevent leakage. v

As explained, when the doors I8 and I9 move together, the door I8 tendsto move into the position occupiedby the door I9 when this door is inclosing position. And since the doors are mounted inwardly of theflanges I3, the door I9 moves behind the panel I4 when it moves fromclosed position as is shown in Fig. 1.

, From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I haveprovided a refrigerator wherein the doors. move vertically to .and fromclosing position and therefore a dealer need not carry a 'doubleinventory such as is required when re- 'frigerators are equipped withswinging doors mounted at the right or left hand sides'of therefrigerator. Moreover, since the doors move to and from closingposition within the confines of the refrigerator, it is possible to usethis refrigerator at thoseplaces whereat it ,is not possible to swing ahinged door. Furthermore, the f doors are` effectively latched inclosing position and by providing tapered side walls on the doorsadapted to cooperate with tapered jambs, I attain tight seating of thedoors and I thereby prevent leakage, sweating and the like.

In the foregoing description I have described a selected embodiment'ofmy invention but it is to said jambs\each adapted when in closingposition to close the open side of one of said compartments, tracks onsaid jambs, means on said.doors engageable in said tracks to guide saiddoors in the vertical movement thereof, said jambs including taperedportions, ami tapered portions on said doors adapted to engage thetapered portions on said jambs when the doors are in closing position toeifectively seal the open sides of said compartments against leakage.

2. In a refrigerator having refrigerating and food compartments therein,one above the other, each of said compartments having an open side,jambs along the side edges of the open sides of said compartments,vertically moveable doors and said jambs each adapted when in closingposition to close the open side of one of said compartments, tracks onsaid jambs, means on said doors engageable in said tracks to guide saiddoors in the vertical movement thereof, said jambs including taperedportions, tapered portions on said doors adapted to engage the taperedportions on said jambs when the doors are in closing position toeffectively seal the open sides of said compartments against leakage,and releaseable means for latching said doors in closing position toretain the tapered portions on said doors in engagementI with thetapered portions on said jambs.

3. In a refrigerator including a lining having an open side at one sideof the refrigerator and enclosing an area adapted to be refrigerated andwherein the bottom of the lining is spaced above the bottom oftherefrigerator: to provide a compartment in the refrigerator below thebottom of the lining, a pair of vertically moveable doors for closingthe open side of said lining, vertically extending tracks in saidrefrigerator, means on said' doors and engageable with said' tracks toguide said doors in their vertical movement, said refrigerator having apanel on the side thereof whereat the open side of said lining isdisposed for closing said compartment, said panel being` spacedforwardly of the front 'of said lining in an amount sufficient to permitthe lowermost of said doors to move `therebehind when the lowermost dooris lowered to aiford access into said refrigerated area, and means forlatching said doors in position to close the operi side of said liningto thereby close olf access to said refrigerated area. j

4. In a refrigerator having refrigerating and food compartments therein,one above the other,

each of said compartments having an open side,

jambs along the side edges* of the open sides of said compartments,vertically moveable doors and said jambs each adapted when in closingposition to close the open side of one of said com` partments, tracks onsaid jambs, means on said doors engageable in said tracks to guide saiddoors in the vertical movement thereof, said jambs including taperedportions, tapered portions on said doors adapted to engage the taperedportions on said jambs when the doors are in closing position toeffectively seal the open sides of said compartments against leakage,

means for releasably latching one of said doors to the refrigerator whensaid door is in closing position, and means for latching the other ofsaid doors to said one door when said other door is in closing position,said llatching means releasably retaining the tapered portions on said Adoors in engagement with the tapered portions on said jambs, the releaseof the latching means for said one door without release of the latchingmeans for said otherdoor permitting conjoint movement of said doors, therelease of the latching means for said other door without release of thelatching means for said one door permitting said other door to be movedrelative to said one door.

5. In a refrigerator including a lining having 'an open side at onesideof said refrigerator and enclosing an area adapted to berefrigerated, jambs on the side of said .refrigerator into which saidlining opens and positioned outwardly of said lining at opposite sidesof the open side of said lining, a pair of vertically moveable doorsmounted between said jambsand adapted to close the open side of saidlining, said doors having tapered sides, said jambs being taperedcomplementary to said tapered sides whereby the tapered sides of said'doors may engage therewith when the doors are in closedposition,vertical tracks in'said refrigerator, and means on said doors engagedwith said tracks and adapted to move therealong to vguide said doors inthe movement thereof to'and from closed position.

6. In a refrigerator including a lining having an open side at one sideof said refrigerator and enclosing an Jarea adapted to be refrigerated,`lambs on the side of said refrigerator into which said lining opens andpositioned outwardlyl of said lining at opposite sides of the open sideof said lining, a pair of vertically moveable doors mounted between saidjambs and adapted to close the open side of said lining, said doorshavlng tapered sides, said jambs being tapered complementary to saidtapered sides whereby the tapered sides of said doors may engagetherewith when the doors are in closed position, said lining havingvertically extending tracks formed thereon, tracks in said refrigeratorin vertical alignment with the tracks on said lining, and v rollers onsaid doors engaged with said tracks and moveable therealong to guidesaid doors in the vertical movement thereof to and from closec`position. l

7. In a refrigerator having refrigerating and food compartments thereinarranged one above the other and opening through one wall of saidrefrigerator, doors for closing the open sides of said compartments andhaving tapered side Walls, jambs at the side of said doors and havingthe faees thereof tapered complementary to the sides of saiddoorswhereby said doors tightly engage said jambs when in compartmentclosing position to prevent leakage thereby, means providing verticaltracks, and rollers on said doors and engaged with said tracks to guidesaid doors to and from compartment closing position.

' GEORGE H. YOUNG.

